Helsinki

A21 Cocktail Lounge

A high-priced but incredibly high quality cocktail bar situated in the city center, a few hundred meters from Stockmann's. Generally serves classic cocktail drinks with a twist, but also features several cocktails with a distinctly Finnish vibe (featuring garnishes such as birch leaves and fresh cloudberry) and innovative house specialities. According to worldsbestbars.com, this unlikely find is one of the world's best bars, winning the title of the best bar in the world in 2009 and 2010.

Drinks €7-25, try the Birch Cooler, Blinker or XXX.

Adler Wine House

A summer wine bar open from the end of May until the beginning of September.

Sun–Mon 12:00–18:00, Tue–Sat 12:00–22:00

Adlerfelt

A restaurant (housed in a magnificent 250-year-old building) with cool Nordic food, interesting drinks and good moments.

Aero

New and vintage design furniture, lighting, textiles, jewelery, glass. Finnish designers represented include Eero Aarnio, Alvar Aalto, Tapio Wirkkala, Timo Sarpaneva and Ilmari Tapiovaara. Not for the budget traveller.

Ahjo

Named after the forge where the mythical Sampo of the Kalevala was made, this is a slick modern bar-lounge with two sides to it: a pure white space as you enter, with a bar counter and sofas, and a darker back room with nooks and crannies for a quieter chat. Try the drink Ahjotonic.

Mon-Sat·Drinks €6–8

Akateeminen Kirjakauppa

Akademiska bokhandeln

The largest bookstore in Northern Europe, with extensive selections in English too. An underground passage connects the bookstore to Stockmann. If for no other reason the bookstore's architecture (Alvar Aalto) and pleasant second floor cafeteria (one of the few with to-table service in Helsinki) might be enough reason to visit.

Aleksanterin teatteri

The Alexander theater, named after the Russian czar Alexander II and finished in 1879 is likely Helsinki's most beautiful venue for performance art. Occasional shows and concerts in English.

Alppipuisto

Located on the west side of the Linnanmäki amusement park, this beautiful park is a hidden gem during the summer due to the many free concerts and other events that are held there throughout the summer months.

Amarillo

Tex-Mex cuisine for Finnish tastes. Steaks, burritos, fajitas, burgers and salads. All food is very tasty but don't expect completely authentic Mexican cuisine.

15:00 to 21:00 mostly·Main courses 20 € to 40 €

Amos Andersson Art Gallery

In the Forum block. The largest private gallery of contemporary art in Finland.

Mon Thu Fri 10:00–18:00, Wed 10:00–20:00, Sat Sun 11:00–17:00·Adults €10

Amos Rex

A modern arts museum that tends towards immersive, often audiovisual installations and has rapidly gained in acknowledgement since its opening in 2018. While entrance and shop are in Lasipalatsi, the actual museum is a piece architecture playing with organic forms located below the square located behind the visible building; sculptural forms extend into the square, portholes on their top allow a glimpse into the museum.

Mon 11–20; Wed–Fri 11–20; Sat/Sun 11–17, closed on Tue·General admission €20, reduced €15, students and youth under 30 years €5, children under 18 years free

Angleterre

Oldest British pub in Helsinki since 1976. Only fifth outside the UK to gain the Cask Marque -award for excellence in serving real ale.

Mon Tue 15:00-00:00; Wed Thu 15:00-01:00; Fri Sat 14:00-02:00; Sun closed

Annantalo

Feel creative? Annantalo, a multimodal "house of art" arranges art workshops and courses for both kids and grownups, as well as performances and exhibitions.

Mon-Fri 08:00–20:00, Sat Sun 10:00–16:00

Anne's Shop

Annensoppi

The oldest souvenir shop in Helsinki still serving tourists from near and far.

In Summer: 09:00–18:00; in winter: 09:00–17:00

Arabia Factory Shop

Factory outlet for Arabia ceramics and Iittala glassware, best known for selling slightly defective goods at modestly discounted prices.

Mon-Fri 10:00-20:00, Sat Sun 10:00-16:00

Arlan sauna

Sauna Arla

Old public sauna in Kallio. Separate saunas for men and women. Washing service and traditional bloodletting (kuppaus) also available.

€9 for adults, students €7

Ateljee Baari

Despite the name it's more like a cafe, located on top of Hotel Torni, Finland's first high-rise. Excellent views over Helsinki's downtown. You even have a view from the (famous) toilets. Highly recommended. Find the elevator close to the lobby to get there, but be prepared for expensive drinks. If you're on a tight budget, you can just enjoy the view on the elevator level.

Ateneum Art Museum

Ateneum can be considered the most nationally significant art museum, and it has the largest collection of paintings and sculptures in Finland. Particularly notable is the collection of works by major Finnish artists. Works include renowned interpretations of the national epic Kalevala.

Tue–Fri 09:00–18:00, Wed Thu 09:00–20:00, Sat Sun 11:00–17:00, closed on Mondays·Adults €6, under 18 free, special prices may apply during major exhibitions. First Wednesday of the month 17:00–20:00 free admission

Aurinkolahti Beach

Aurinkolahden uimaranta

Spacier and calmer than Hietsu in Western Helsinki, the Aurinkolahti Beach is frequented by everyone from youth to families.

Aussie Bar

The name says it. Place to go get some drinks with some international fun. Live music every Wednesday and the weekends are always crazy in Kangaroo Land.

Mon Tue Sun 14:00 - 02:00, Wed-Sat 12:00 - 03:00

Bangkok 9

A Thai cuisine restaurant in the City-Center complex in central Helsinki, opposite the central railway station. Offers authentic spicy Thai cuisine. Interesting decor. Usually a bit crowded.

12:00–20:00 mostly·Main courses €16 to 20

Bar Loosister

Good selection of burgers and beers on tap. Chicken wings with four different sauces, the hottest one "hot as fuck" is absolutely scorching hot.

14:00-00:00 mostly·Burgers around EUR 16

Bar Molotow

Small and always cosy indie/alternative/electro/goth rock bar. Nice summer terrace.

Bar No 9

Popular bar that also serves a variety of dishes with a twist of cross-kitchen style, priced from €4.90-15.90, most main courses under €10. Tends to be packed at lunch and dinner time.

Barbarossa

Good price-quality ratio pizzaplace, always fast service. Very small location though, so you might have to eat your pizza elsewhere.

Bastard Burgers

A hamburger restaurant, where burgers are served with beef produced only on Finnish farms.

Mon–Thu 10:30–22:00, Fri Sat 10:30–01:00, Sun 12:00–21:00

Beach of Uunisaari

One of the better kept secrets of Helsinki is the beach on Uunisaari, an island a short ride away from the south coast.

Bear park

Karhupuisto

A cozy small park on the hill next to Kallio church and one of Kallio's symbols. The park got its name from the bear statue in the middle of it.

Behnford's

British and American store selling food, drinks, candies and other stuff.

Belge

A reasonable selection of Belgian beers, a nice range of bistro fare, and a good location for people watching. The dining room upstairs is non-smoking. The menus in the dining rooms are served inside Tintin comic books in Finnish, so you can read them while deciding what to order.

Main dishes €12–17